Four things to know:
1. The CDC received 294 percent more reports of hepatitis A infections during 2016-18 compared to 2013-15.
2. Nine states and Washington, D.C., saw a 500 percent increase in cases over this time period.
3. Between 2016 and 2018, the CDC confirmed 15,000 hepatitis A infections nationwide. Most of these cases occurred in people who were homeless or used drugs. The second-most cases involved men who had sex with men, followed by people who consumed contaminated food.
4. Hepatitis A is the most common cause of viral hepatitis globally, according to the CDC. The virus is spread through fecal-oral transmission but can be prevented by vaccination.
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